This year is an interesting one for the league, given the behind the scenes war that seems to be ongoing between the IRFU - which wants to transition to an all Ireland semi-pro competition sitting below the provinces - and the bigger clubs, particularly in Leinster, for whom the status quo is working fine, and for some of whom at least, any change will result in a loss (of prestige, players, money, members, spectators or all the above). As far as I can tell the Ulster clubs are sitting on the sidelines a bit at the minute.

Interesting one for the Ulster clubs as well, as after years of neglect and under-performance, we finally have a few clubs in 1B, and the aim this year seems to be to concentrate resources in these clubs to get them back to the top tier. The result is that this year's 1B is a bit of a cracker for Ulster clubs with Ulster derbies all over the place - kicking off on 6th Oct with Ballymena vs Malone...

Other things to watch down the divisions: can QUB pull together a decent squad and get up the divisions? It's would be nice to see some big clubs come to play at such good facilities.. Have 'Quins stopped the rot? Very poor show from them over the last few years, they need to get their act in gear..

To anyone who has never bothered checking out the AIL, I can actually highly recommend it. If you're an Irish rugby anorak, it's a good way to see how academy / fringe squad players look up against the kind of gnarly campaigners you get in 1A and 1B, as well as against their peers from the other provincial academies, and these days the quality of matches is pretty reliably high (at least in 1A/B). You can even get a seat out of the elements at Ballymena, Queens and Quins (possibly elsewhere) and shout out to the Binmen who have done a cracking job on the bar

i actually think they should use the lower pitch at Hinch - very nice surrounded by the trees, and you can stand up on the bank and get some elevation for a good view of the pitch! Cut a few shallow terraces into the bank, stick in some wooden benches, bobs yer uncle!

UCD at Belfield BowlSt Marys RFCClontarf if I remember correctly, Bective Rangers and whoever they share the ground with at DonnybrookOld Belvedere and Terenure have tiered concrete steps where you can plant an ample backside ...on a dry dayObviously Lansdowne and Shannon if not playing on ''back pitches'' at Aviva and Thomond respectively , but that would be rare...Dont know if Wanderers still have any ''rights'' to play in main Aviva Stadium ??Ballymena and Belfast Harlequins

UCD at Belfield BowlSt Marys RFCClontarf if I remember correctly, Bective Rangers and whoever they share the ground with at DonnybrookOld Belvedere and Terenure have tiered concrete steps where you can plant an ample backside ...on a dry dayObviously Lansdowne and Shannon if not playing on ''back pitches'' at Aviva and Thomond respectively , but that would be rare...Dont know if Wanderers still have any ''rights'' to play in main Aviva Stadium ??Ballymena and Belfast Harlequins

UCD at Belfield BowlSt Marys RFCClontarf if I remember correctly, Bective Rangers and whoever they share the ground with at DonnybrookOld Belvedere and Terenure have tiered concrete steps where you can plant an ample backside ...on a dry dayObviously Lansdowne and Shannon if not playing on ''back pitches'' at Aviva and Thomond respectively , but that would be rare...Dont know if Wanderers still have any ''rights'' to play in main Aviva Stadium ??Ballymena and Belfast Harlequins

UCD at Belfield BowlSt Marys RFCClontarf if I remember correctly, Bective Rangers and whoever they share the ground with at DonnybrookOld Belvedere and Terenure have tiered concrete steps where you can plant an ample backside ...on a dry dayObviously Lansdowne and Shannon if not playing on ''back pitches'' at Aviva and Thomond respectively , but that would be rare...Dont know if Wanderers still have any ''rights'' to play in main Aviva Stadium ??Ballymena and Belfast Harlequins

Columbo wrote:This year is an interesting one for the league, given the behind the scenes war that seems to be ongoing between the IRFU - which wants to transition to an all Ireland semi-pro competition sitting below the provinces - and the bigger clubs, particularly in Leinster, for whom the status quo is working fine, and for some of whom at least, any change will result in a loss (of prestige, players, money, members, spectators or all the above). As far as I can tell the Ulster clubs are sitting on the sidelines a bit at the minute.

Interesting one for the Ulster clubs as well, as after years of neglect and under-performance, we finally have a few clubs in 1B, and the aim this year seems to be to concentrate resources in these clubs to get them back to the top tier. The result is that this year's 1B is a bit of a cracker for Ulster clubs with Ulster derbies all over the place - kicking off on 6th Oct with Ballymena vs Malone...

Other things to watch down the divisions: can QUB pull together a decent squad and get up the divisions? It's would be nice to see some big clubs come to play at such good facilities.. Have 'Quins stopped the rot? Very poor show from them over the last few years, they need to get their act in gear..

To anyone who has never bothered checking out the AIL, I can actually highly recommend it. If you're an Irish rugby anorak, it's a good way to see how academy / fringe squad players look up against the kind of gnarly campaigners you get in 1A and 1B, as well as against their peers from the other provincial academies, and these days the quality of matches is pretty reliably high (at least in 1A/B). You can even get a seat out of the elements at Ballymena, Queens and Quins (possibly elsewhere) and shout out to the Binmen who have done a cracking job on the bar

Can you explain this a bit more? What changes are they looking to make and why are the Leinster clubs against it?